[ARC5] ARC-5 Screws

[Mike Morrow]

Ken wrote:

> What this means is that any part that must be removed for routine
> service is held on with nickle-plate (I thought that plating was
> cadmium) screws, whereas those parts that are not normally removed
> are held with black screws.

That seems to be the logic, which makes black vs. plated screw use an
intentional distinction built in to these favorite sets of ours and not
just an arbitrary cosmetic feature.

It also means that the plated screws are the ones that are far more
likely to be missing.  If one had to choose black or plated finish,
the plated finish would be much more useful and likely much easier
to obtain.

I don't know what the plating is, nor am I sure what process was used
to apply the black finish.

> ...I have found that the black screws MUST be loosened a bit in order
> to get the tube-cover off without bending it. Perhaps those were simply
> over-tightened by a later user...

Fair enough.  However, I removed the tube covers from three receivers
just a few days ago that likely have been unmolested for 55 to 60 years
and had no real resistance to sliding the cover to the rear once the eight
plated screws were removed.  One of the sets was a BC-453-B that had been
coated in a thick yellow MFP film, yet still gave little resistance to
cover removal.

>>  What doesn't make sense is why so many of these damned little screws
>>  were used at all.  
>
> Well, **I** think they are pretty in that use! Makes it look somewhat like 
> a riveted boiler on a steam engine or the rivets in an airplane. :-)

They're pretty, but I can't imagine the radio techs servicing these units
looked forward to opening and closing them up.  One could imagine a
transmitter being junked just because it was more trouble to mess with
the 19 screws holding the tube cover on than it was worth.  What could
have been A.R.C.'s motivation, especially with a war obviously on the way?

>> I'm not the Mike to whom you refer, but I'll jump in anyway. :-)
>
> Actually, yes you WERE the "Mike" to whom I was referring!

I'm a small-time patzer compared to all the knowledgeable people on these
lists.  In the 15 years I've subscribed to this and similar lists, I have
learned many many times over what I knew before then, even though I'd been
interested since 1964.  I am very thankful to all who contribute to the
discussions.  Some members have stunningly good websites or offer other
sources of information as well.  It's all better than "Electric Radio",
and that's pretty good!

73,
Mike / KK5F